James, James, James

As I mentioned earlier this week, James turned 5. He had a wonderful birthday full of presents and love. On Tuesday I sat him down to start writing thank you notes an idea he rejected. So I said we only have to one a day to help ease the pain. I want him to practice both capital and lower letters but I was getting a lot of resistence so I said fine write in all caps. That helped move things along for us. I am here to write things I noticed. First, James will write with either his left or right hand. His right hand writing is much better. Hopefully this left hand habit will leave or come in handy should he break his right hand. Second, he thinks of a story for EVERY letter you tell him to write. L – Luke from school, O – Owen from school, V – Olivia from school, E – Just like me. Then he would throw in a few jokes when I would tell him to write a “u” he would reply “no you”. When he focused on writing and not associating a letter with something we were moving and grooving otherwise it was like I had to hit him upside the head to refocus his attention. Luckily he has his 5 year old check up Tuesday so I can talk to the Doctor about it. Not sure if this is a sign of ADHD or just a 5 year old’s mind wandering. He doesn’t know yet about the doctors appointment. I don’t want him to start fretting about the shots he is about to get. There will be plenty of time for that later. I am planning on James and John doing some sort of school related thing during the summer. Maybe 2 or 3 times a week so they retain what they learned and continue to improve.

It's been a long time

I can't believe how long it has been since I had an entry. I have been microblogging with Twitter. Sometimes its just easier to write down a few thoughts on the go rather than finding time to sit down at the computer to type.

Today is James' 5th birthday! He was up at 4:50am with birthday excitement and the need to use the bathroom. I remember the adrenaline rush I felt after he was born after spending the whole night in labor. Needless to say I wasn’t feeling the same rush especially after Patrick was up at 5am .
I can’t believe I’m about to type this but I think Patrick decided he wants to be a big boy. It started off last week by him using the bathroom more and more. He has been in underwear for just one day and he has had no accidents. I signed him up for swimming lessons that start in July but if this keeps up I think I will see if they have room for him when the lessons start in June!
John had Opening Day for his baseball league on Saturday. The league had everyone go to Classic Park for player introductions, the National Anthem, and a baloon launch. It was a very neat experience. We then had his first game at the ballfield in our city.
Tommy is making a funny noise that we are not sure what prompted it but it cracks us up. Matt got it on video. Speaking of videos I was looking at some old ones when James was a baby and John was 2 or 3. I was tearing up at how cute they were and how I miss having a little baby. I don’t miss it enough to have another one but it was nice to enjoy them when they were little. It was also funny to see Patrick and Tommy’s reaction when they weren’t there!

A good quote

This was too funny not to mention - While I was doing the dishes tonight and John was eating dinner he said when I get older I'm going to be hurt alot. I said not if you take care of your body. He said - well look at the Keough's - their knees and this house. Tommy caught his hands on fire. No John he burnt his hands on something that was hot - but I could see how he would think this. I'm still laughing on the inside.

A light at the end of the tunnel??

Yesterday - Patrick had his BEST potty training day ever. He was so close to a perfect day. I even had him on the potty one more time before he went to bed. He had one accident after he went upstairs but told Matt he pooped his pants and can't go to school yet. Today again another great day but he didn't tell me he had to go and pooped his pants. I'm so encouraged that he is getting it. On Sunday I finally got the kid a pooping prize one that he could cherish and I take away when he doesn't comply. Today he doesn't seem to be missing it that much but he sure enjoyed it yesterday!

Today was a lot of fighting. Tommy is getting older and wanting to do what the kids do and now Wii is one of those things. It makes it difficult because he doesn't have the skills to do anything but shake the remote. I'm so enjoying the peace that nap time brings. John had an early release day and is over a friends house so it is quiet.

Speaking of John, ever since I got a Cavs jersey he has been wanting one. I got him one on Sunday and he was so excited he wanted to know when he could wear it. I said let's see when the Cavs play again & you can wear it on that day. It turned out they play tonight so it gave me a chance to wash it. Last night John asked me if he could get dressed after he got up and went the bathroom - something he never does! I said - yes. It must have felt like Christmas eve for him as he was up around 5:30am and he was dressed shortly there after. He can't wait until he can wear it again. The Cavs play Thursday but he'll have to wait until Saturday (their next game after that)!

This afternoon I had the boys work on signing their names on their Valentine cards for their class. Poor James - you think his name was a mile long - he can't fit it into the little spot and every letter is capitalized - I think I'll end writing his name for him!

Winter Blues

I don't know if it is because we are inside more than not but the kids are acting very spoiled. It has been very frustrating for them to play with toys and then just leave them. When I ask them to pick them up I get a no. This is starting to wear on my patience - big time. Today at lunch Tommy decided to play Cookie Monster with his Cheez Its and had them all over the floor. That boy is going to start learning how to stand in time out - the problem is - I have to stand there to make sure he doesn't move delaying the clean up process which frustrates me further. I'm starting to cut back their Wii time because some days it just makes them mean and nasty if they don't get their way. How many more days until Spring??

Happy New Year!

I survived the holidays. Christmas Eve was a little rough as I started to assemble Legos at 9:30 when we thought everyone was down for the night but wait - its John - mister bladder of steel - needing to go one more time as Mom was in the process of dumping Legos everywhere to assemble. His set took me over an hour - maybe an hour and a half and when I was finished I knew it wasn't right I had to move onto the next set for James. James set was a little easier and I had Matt assemble a few parts as it was 3 different assemblies. It was finished at midnight. The kids slept in pretty good. It was 6:15 until Patrick came down and then we got everyone up. Once everyone used the bathroom and the cameras were ready the big boys took off for the presents and well Patrick - took off for the refridgerator for his OJ and milk. Tommy was up when Patrick got up but soon fell back to sleep in our bed but once we woke him up again - he enjoyed his toys.

New Years was fun even though most of the kids had a head cold. We celebrated at noon with party hats, poppers and noise makers. In the evening John stayed up until 10:30. I took a great 2 hour nap andwoke up in time to see the ball drop.

John spent all of his Christmas gift card money except for one store. I'm happy for him because he got a Wii game that he is really enjoying and now I don't have to feel bad when we go to the store and the boys get stuff and he doesn't. The other boys have yet to spend much or any of their money. The weather and theirs and my colds have kept us hibernated. We are all feeling better so I am hoping we can get out tomorrow. I know they will make things challenging just getting coats and boots on but hopefully once we are out they will have fun.

It's almost Christmas!

So we are less than 10 days before Christmas. The kids are getting excited for vacation and of course Santa. Every night prayers are filled with Christmas wishes or what Wii game they want to play the next day. Then after our advent prayer the fight ensues - I didn't get to blow out a candle or Patrick - is it still my birthday? Thank goodness we will have 4 candles to blow out next week.

Patrick had a great birthday. His birthday card that I made and sent to PBS Sprout made it on the air. I was recording it on the DVR but when it was on live I could not get Patrick to quit Wii to come upstairs to watch. What is funny is when Patrick wants to see it Tommy gets just as excited because his name is announced on the air too because I had all of our names listed on the card.

It feels like I have been baking forever even though it was just two days. Yesterday was the sugar cookies. I had the kids decorate them after dinner. They did quite well with not licking their fingers too much. After a lot of sprinkles of the floor Tommy & Patrick retired to the living room leaving my big boy elves in charge. We got it all finished. Today I decorated the gingerbread cutouts. I would like to know who started the tradition of the Christmas cookie. Its fun at times but can be stressful when they don't come out like you hoped. What was funny was before the decorating began I made the boys use the bathroom and wash their hands before the mess began. This was more for Patrick's benefit as I'm trying to get him to go more often. Anyway John was first and then James was going in behind him to which he exclaimed "John you have a big butt!" I laughed and said now you know why you can't come in the bathroom with me!

Today was James concert/Christmas pageant. He did well although to me he looked really nervous. I was quite pleased he wanted to wear a tie and look nice. A lot of the kids dressed up. It was really cute. Friday is party day. I'm helping out in James' room in the morning and going to John's in the afternoon with some wrapping of presents in the middle. Thank goodness for Aunt Kathy to come over and watch the boys. What is funny is Patrick is asking for Aunt Dorrie to watch him. Can never win with that kid.

Matt was off today so he could attend James' pageant. It was a blessing to have another set of hands around today. He could watch the boys so I could run a few errands. I'm sure he enjoyed it too!